IP Library Granted Patent US 9,162,679
Granted Patent B2
US 9,162,679 · App. 13/336,959 · Granted Oct 20, 2015

System and method of vehicle operating condition management

Inventors: Vivek A. Sujan (Columbus, IN); Phani Vajapeyazula (Columbus, IN); Kenneth Follen (Greenwood, IN); An Wu (Columbus, IN); Barty L. Moffett (Seymour, IN)
Assignee: CUMMINS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
B60W30/1882B60K23/00B60K31/00B60W10/06B60W10/11B60W2550/00B60W2550/14
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,162,679
App. No.
13/336,959
Granted
Oct 20, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle operating condition profile can be determined over a given route while also considering imposed constraints such as deviation from time targets, deviation from maximum governed speed limits, etc. Given current vehicle speed, engine state and transmission state, the present disclosure optimally manages the engine map and transmission to provide a recommended vehicle operating condition that optimizes fuel consumption in transitioning from one vehicle state to a target state. Exemplary embodiments provide for offline and online optimizations relative to fuel consumption. The benefit is increased freight efficiency in transporting cargo from source to destination by minimizing fuel consumption and maintaining drivability.

Claims (35)

1. A vehicle operating condition management system comprising:

a communication module configured to transmit vehicle operating condition data for a vehicle; and

a cycle efficiency management module coupled to the communication module, the cycle efficiency management module configured to:

access an engine map of the vehicle, the engine map including data corresponding to an engine speed and engine torque for the engine of the vehicle;

predetermine a velocity profile to minimize fuel consumption of the vehicle for a route from a source to a destination, the velocity profile predetermined at least in part based on the accessed engine map and a determination of a transition grade, the velocity profile providing a plurality of velocity vectors, the velocity profile including a first uphill velocity that is slower than a first downhill velocity for grades below the transition grade and a second uphill velocity that is the same as a second downhill velocity for grades above the transition grade,

cause the velocity profile to be stored,

access the stored velocity profile during an execution of a drive cycle along the route by the vehicle, and based on receipt of route information obtained during the execution of the drive cycle along the route by the vehicle and based on the stored velocity profile, determine a new velocity vector for a discrete section of the route;

wherein the communication module transmits vehicle operating condition data to one of a transmission control unit or a display based on the new velocity vector.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the velocity profile to minimize fuel consumption of the vehicle for a route from a source to a destination is with respect to a trip time and wherein the new velocity vector for the discrete section of the route is determined to satisfy the trip time to traverse the route.

3. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising obtaining the route information at a plurality of intervals during the execution of the drive cycle along the route by the vehicle.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the velocity profile is predetermined based on one or more of: vehicle mass, vehicle drag, vehicle rolling resistance, resistive force at lower gear, tire circumference, and vehicle front area.

5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the route information includes road terrain elements.

6. The system according to claim 5 , wherein the road terrain element include one or more of: route grade, speed limit changes, off-ramp locations, fueling station locations, air density, traffic patterns, position, and elevation.

7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the transmitted vehicle operating condition data comprises a recommendation based on the new velocity vector.

8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the recommendation includes a speed reference.

9. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the recommendation includes a transmission gear.

10. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the new velocity vector is determined based on current vehicle speed.

11. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the new velocity vector is determined based on current transmission gear.

12. A method of managing a vehicle operating condition comprising:

accessing an engine map of the vehicle, the engine map including data corresponding to an engine speed and engine torque for the engine of the vehicle;

predetermining a velocity profile to minimize fuel consumption of the vehicle for a route from a source to a destination, the velocity profile predetermined at least in part based on the accessed engine map and a determination of a transition grade, the velocity profile providing a plurality of velocity vectors, the velocity profile including a first uphill velocity that is slower than a first downhill velocity for grades below the transition grade and a second uphill velocity that is the same as a second downhill velocity for grades above the transition grade;

causing the velocity profile to be stored;

accessing the stored velocity profile during an execution of a drive cycle along the route by the vehicle; and

based on receipt of route information obtained during an execution of a drive cycle along the route by the vehicle and on the stored velocity profile, determining a new velocity vector for a discrete section of the route;

transmitting vehicle operating condition data to one of a transmission control unit or a display based on the new velocity vector.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the velocity profile to minimize fuel consumption of the vehicle for a route from a source to a destination is with respect to a trip time and wherein determining the new velocity vector for the discrete section of the route includes determining the new velocity vector to satisfy a trip time to traverse the route.

14. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising obtaining the route information at a plurality of intervals during the execution of the drive cycle along the route by the vehicle.

15. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the velocity profile is predetermined based on one or more of: vehicle mass, vehicle drag, vehicle rolling resistance, resistive force at lower gear, tire circumference, vehicle front area.

16. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the route information includes road terrain elements.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the road terrain element include one or more of: route grade, speed limit changes, off-ramp locations, fueling station locations, air density, traffic patterns, position and elevation.

18. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the transmitted vehicle operating condition data comprises a recommendation based on the new velocity vector.

19. The method according to claim 18 , wherein the recommendation includes a speed reference.

20. The method according to claim 18 , wherein the recommendation includes a transmission gear.

21. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the new velocity vector is determined based on current vehicle speed.

22. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the new velocity vector is determined based on current transmission gear.

Assignments (2)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Aug 20, 2020
From: CUMMINS, INC. D/B/A CUMMINS TECHNICAL CENTER
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 053557/0661 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 24, 2012
From: SUJAN, VIVEK A.; VAJAPEYAZULA, PHANI; FOLLEN, KENNETH; WU, AN; MOFFETT, BARTY L.
To: CUMMINS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.; PACCAR, INC.; EATON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 029011/0389 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 61426988 · Dec 23, 2010
Provisional Application 61432736 · Jan 14, 2011
Related Publication 20120197501A1 · Aug 2, 2012